Kendrick Lamar Explains What 'Not Like Us' Means to Him – Inside the Rapper's Feud with Drake

The rapper took the stage at the Super Bowl and delivered his fiery diss track aimed at his hip-hop rival, and the performance left some fans excited. Despite their long-running feud, the Compton native's fellow rapper once called him a "genius."

"Not Like Us" is one of Kendrick Lamar's diss tracks aimed at Drake, released in May 2024. The Grammy-winning artist has shared his thoughts on the song's significance, offering insight into its deeper meaning.

The track made an instant impact, igniting discussions across the music world. Since its debut, "Not Like Us" has broken streaming records, won multiple Grammys for Lamar, and built anticipation for his Super Bowl 59 halftime show.

Discussing his February 9, 2025, performance — which opened with "Bodies" — Lamar emphasized its significance, "This is a true art form, so to represent it on this type of stage is like, everything that I've worked for and everything that I believe in as far as the culture. Like, I live and die by it."

His Super Bowl gig featured a live rendition of the hit song "Not Like Us," sparking an outpouring of reactions online. One fan remarked, "The enthusiasm while the audience chants 'A MINOOOR' is diabolical [sic]."

Another joked, "Kendrick was so kind to let some football teams play during his concert." The energy stood out to many, with a viewer noting"the smile at the camera when he says 'hey Drake' is gold."

Others highlighted the rapper's technical skill, pointing out how he delivered rapid-fire lyrics with precision. "Can we talk about how great his breath control is? He was moving all over the place and still enunciating his words so clearly and sometimes very quickly too," one fan noted.

The timing of the performance also amazed viewers, "Winning a Grammy and doing the halftime show in the same week is actually insane bro." Another emphasized the power of the crowd's engagement, "'A Minorrrrrrrrr' was crazy with the whole crowd chanting along."

The track was a response to Drake's "Taylor Made Freestyle." The song, which used AI-generated vocals of 2Pac and Snoop Dogg, was quickly taken down after the late rapper's estate issued a cease-and-desist.

Beyond its infectious beat and West Coast energy, "Not Like Us" delivers some of Lamar's most pointed lyrics, leaving no room for subtlety in his critique of Drake.

He directly calls out his rival with lines like: "Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young. You better not ever go to cell block one. To any [expletive] that talk to him and they in love. Just make sure you hide your lil' sister from him."

Lamar continues the attack, referencing members of the Canadian native's circle: "They tell me Chubbs the only one that get your hand-me-downs. And Party at the party playin' with his nose now. And Baka got a weird case, why is he around? Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophiles."

His Super Bowl performance of "Not Like Us" kept the energy of the original track intact but featured a subtle lyrical change. When delivering the line "Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophiles," he deliberately went silent instead of rapping the final word.

Lamar also mocks Drake's musical choices, referencing a chord progression: "Why you trollin' like a [expletive]? Ain't you tired? Tryna strike a chord and it's probably A minor."

The lines, packed with bold accusations and sharp wordplay, have fueled ongoing discussions. One lyric, "Tryna strike a chord and it's probably A minor," stands out for its double meaning. While it references the "A minor" chord, it also plays on the phrase "a minor," subtly alluding to allegations against Drake.

Lamar and Drake began as collaborators before their rivalry developed. In November 2011, Drake featured Lamar on the "Buried Alive" interlude from "Take Care." A few months later, in February 2012, Lamar joined his "Club Paradise" tour alongside A$AP Rocky.

Their last collaborations came in October 2012 with "Poetic Justice" and "[Expletive] Problems." Since then, they have not worked together.

Their relationship drastically turned in 2024 when Lamar escalated the feud on "Like That" by Metro Boomin and Future. He aimed with, "These (expletive) talkin' out of they necks. Don't pull no coffin out of your mouth, I'm way too paranoid for a threat... Say, it's a lot of goofies with a check."

The tension grew as Lamar and Drake traded diss tracks that year, igniting a global hip-hop spectacle. Long before the feud made headlines, the two had been at odds for years, taking subtle jabs at each other in various songs — including Lamar's verse on Big Sean's "Control."

Drake had explained in a 2013 interview that Lamar's "Control" verse had become a problem for him because it overshadowed his album rollout.

"What am I supposed to say? Nah, we'll be buddy-buddy? Mind you, I never once said he's a bad guy [or] I don't like him. I think he's a … genius in his own right, but I also stood my ground as I should," said the award-winning rapper.

While Drake viewed Lamar's "Control" verse as a disruption, the "Humble" hitmaker's latest diss track carries a deeper personal meaning for him.

In a candid interview, Lamar explained, "[...] Not like us is the energy of who I am, the type of man I represent. Now, if you identify with the man that I represent …"

According to Lamar, the song represents the kind of man he stands for —one with morals, values, and conviction. He emphasized that this man does not pander, acknowledges his mistakes, and isn't afraid to confront fear-based experiences.

"If I'm thinking of "Not Like Us," I'm thinking of me and whoever identifies with that," added the California native, whose song recently won Record of the Year at the Grammys.

Lamar's "Not Like Us" cemented itself as a defining moment in his feud with Drake, blending sharp lyricism with a dynamic performance that captivated audiences. From subtle jabs to direct accusations, the track and its Super Bowl showcase reinforced his stance while letting the music speak for itself.